Mounting apparatus for a mobile communication device

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus ( 100 ) includes a mobile communication device ( 102 ) having first and second integrated side rails ( 120, 122 ), and a unitarily molded bracket ( 104 ) having side surfaces ( 134 ) extending therefrom. The side surfaces ( 134 ) receive the mobile communication device ( 102 ) in either a vertical drop down mounting option ( 202 ) or a horizontal slide in mounting ( 204 ) option. The mobile communication device ( 102 ) includes first and second side rails ( 120, 122 ) that rest on top of the side surfaces ( 134 ) in the vertical drop down mounting mode ( 202 ). In the horizontal slide in mode ( 204 ), the side rails ( 120, 122 ) slide along flat surfaces ( 138 ) of side surfaces ( 134 ) and become engaged to engagement portions ( 136, 138, 140 ) of the side panels ( 142 ).

CROSS RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is cross-referenced to patent application entitledMOUNTING APPARATUS FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE, Attorney DocketNo. CM08456K, filed on even date herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to mobile communication devices andmore particularly to mechanisms for mounting such devices into vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Mobile communication devices, particularly high power data and radiodevices, tend to be heavy and thus require strong, stable mechanisms formounting these devices into vehicles. A mounting bracket is typicallyused to receive and retain the mobile device. The mounting bracket isusually affixed to a portion of the vehicle, such as in the trunk, underthe dash board or between seats, with the mobile device being installedand retained within the bracket. Installation and removal of the mobiledevice to and from the bracket can be cumbersome and awkward due to theweight of the device as well as height and width clearance limitationswithin the vehicle. Separate alignment piece parts may also be needed,requiring an installer to use both hands to align the mobilecommunication device within the bracket thereby increasing parts count,assembly complexity and cost.

Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting apparatus that facilitatesinstallation and removal of a mobile communication device, particularlyin the vehicular environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel,are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures ofwhich like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a mounting bracket and mobile communication device formedin accordance the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows two mounting options that can be used for mounting themobile communication device to the bracket in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows a completed assembly of the mobile communication devicewithin the bracket in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that theinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in whichlike reference numerals are carried forward.

The present invention may be embodied in several forms and manners. Thedescription provided below and the drawings show exemplary embodimentsof the invention. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that theinvention may be embodied in other forms and manners not shown below.The invention shall have the full scope of the claims and shall not belimited by the embodiments shown below. It is further understood thatthe use of relational terms, if any, such as first, second, top andbottom, front and rear and the like are used solely for distinguishingone entity or action from another, without necessarily requiring orimplying any such actual relationship or order between such entities oractions.

Briefly, there is provided herein an apparatus for mounting a mobilecommunication device, such as to a vehicle. The mounting apparatus ofthe present invention includes first and second rails extending from themobile communication device and a bracket having a bottom surface withside surfaces. The side surfaces of the bracket provide a track uponwhich to slide the rails during engagement and disengagement of themobile communication device. The mounting apparatus of the presentinvention engages the mobile communication device using two possiblemounting options: a drop in mounting option and a slide-in mountingoption.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the mounting apparatus of the present invention atvarious stages of assembly. FIG. 1 shows a mounting bracket and mobilecommunication device formed in accordance the present invention. FIG. 2shows two mounting options that can be used for mounting the mobilecommunication device to the bracket in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 3 shows a completed assembly of the mobile communicationdevice within the bracket in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, mounting apparatus 100 includes mobilecommunication device 102 and mounting bracket 104 formed in accordancewith the present invention. Mobile communication device 102 comprises ahousing 106, shown here as a unitarily die cast chassis, having top,bottom, front, back and first and second side surfaces 108, 110, 112,114, 116 and 118 respectively. In accordance with the present invention,mobile communication device 102 includes first and second rails 120,122, integrated as part of the housing 106, extending from the topsurface 108 over the side surfaces 116, 118. Rails 120, 122 provideintegrated alignment and facilitate mounting capability of the housing106 to bracket 104.

If desired, pads 124 may be integrated as part of the housing 106 aroundscrew holes 126, for the purposes of focusing signs of wear topredetermined areas. The rails 120, 122 thus minimize signs of wear inaddition to providing alignment and mounting capability.

In accordance with the present invention, bracket 104 comprises aunitarily formed piece of metal having a bottom surface 130 and aplurality of side surfaces 134 extending upward and substantiallyperpendicular therefrom. For the purposes of this application, four sidesurfaces are shown, two on each side of the bracket 104, however,additional side surfaces could be used as well. In accordance with thepresent invention, side surfaces 134 provide tracks upon which to mountthe mobile communication device 102 using two possible mounting options,as will be discussed in conjunction with FIG. 2.

In accordance with the present invention, side surfaces 134 include anengagement portion having a predetermined shape with which to slide andengage/disengage the mobile communication device 102. The shape of theengagement portion is preferably formed of a curved up ramp 136, a topflat section 138 and a curved down ramp 140. The bracket's plurality ofside surfaces 134 will also be referred to as first side panels 142 andsecond side panels 144. In accordance with the present invention, therails 120, 122 of mobile communication device 102 include contouredportions which align and co-locate with the geometry of the engagementportions of the bracket 104.

Referring now to FIG. 2, two mounting options 202, 204 are shown formounting mobile communication device 102 to the bracket 104 inaccordance with the present invention. Mounting option 202 provides adrop down option, while mounting option 204 provides a slide in option.

In accordance with the present invention, the drop down option 202allows the mobile communication device 102 to be vertically depositedwithin the bracket 104 such that the first and second rails 120, 122come to rest upon each flat top section 138 of the plurality of sidesurfaces 134. The first side panels 142 become thus become engaged bysecond contour portions 148. The completed engagement of first mountingoption 202 is shown in view 206.

In accordance with the present invention, the second mounting option 204allows the rails 120, 122 of mobile communication device 102 to be slidhorizontally along surfaces 138 of bracket 104. Upon insertion of themobile communication device 102 into bracket 104, rails 120, 122 slideover the flat top sections 138 of the first side panels 142. As therails 120, 122 slide toward the second side panels 144, the contouredportions of the rails begin engagement with the engagement portions ofthe first side panels 142. To achieve engagement, the first contourportion 146 slides up over the up ramp 136, across the flat top section138 and down the down ramp 140. The second contoured portions 148 thusengage and retain the first side panels 142, as seen in view 206.

Both mounting options 202, 204 produce completed assembly 206 shown inFIG. 2. For either mounting option 202 or 204, the integrated rails 120,122 guide the housing 102 onto the flat top sections 138 of bracket 104while the second contoured portions 148 complete the engagement of thehousing 106 to the bracket 104. First contoured portions 146 are used inthe horizontal mounting option 204 to provide lift (up ramp), alignment(across ramp) and drop (down ramp) such that the second contouredportions 148 (having corresponding geometries to the side panels)co-locate, capture and retain first side panels 142. Both mountingoptions 202, 204 can be performed by an installer using one hand.

FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the completed mountingapparatus 100 in accordance with the present invention. This view showsrail 122 having first and second contoured portions 146, 148 engaged toside panel 142 of the mobile communication device 102. The rail 122rests on each of the flat top sections 138 of the first and second sidepanels 142, 144. Thus, while all four of the plurality of side surfaces134 provide alignment and tracks upon which to slide the mobilecommunication device 102, only two of the plurality of side surfaces 134(first side panels 142) are needed for actually retaining the mobilecommunication device to the bracket 104. Additional side surfaces couldbe formed as part of the bracket 104 for the purposes of alignment andtracks if desired.

Removal of the mobile communication device 102 from bracket 104 isachieved by grabbing the front portion of the device and pulling itupwards to disengage the first side panels 142 from the first contouredportions 146 of the bracket. The device can then be lifted straight outor pulled out horizontally.

Accordingly, there has been provided a mounting apparatus thatsimplifies mounting a mobile communication device. By integrating therails 120, 122 as part of the housing 106, the need for any separatealignment pieces has been eliminated thereby reducing assemblycomplexity and tooling costs. The use of integrated pads around thescrew holes, if desired, focuses any signs of wear marks topredetermined areas under the rails and as such the wear marks are farless visible to users. The ability to use two mounting optionsfacilitates placement of the device within a vehicle, even in vehicleshaving tight height and width constraints. The mounting apparatus of thepresent invention allows an installer to install and remove the mobilecommunication device to and from the bracket using one hand furtherfacilitating installation and removal of the system.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited.Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions andequivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A mounting apparatus, including: a mobile communication device havingfirst and second integrated rails extending therefrom, a bracket havinga bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces extending therefrom,the plurality of side surfaces providing a track upon which to slide theintegrated rails during engagement and disengagement of the mobilecommunication device, the bracket engaging the mobile communicationdevice using a mounting option selected from a drop in mounting and aslide in mounting.
 2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: screw holes in the mobile communication device, the sidesurfaces aligning with the screw holes; and pads integrated about thescrew holes, the pads providing an area upon which to focus wear marksoccurring between the bracket and the mobile communication device. 3.The mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second railsconceal wear marks on the pads.
 4. A mounting apparatus, comprising: amobile communication device having a housing with first and secondintegrated rails extending therefrom, the first and second integratedrails having a contoured portion; a bracket having a bottom surface anda plurality of side surfaces extending therefrom, the bracket forreceiving the mobile communication device between the plurality of sidesurfaces, the plurality of side surfaces characterized by an engagementportion; and wherein the contoured portions of the first and secondintegrated rails align and co-locate with the engagement portions of theplurality of side surfaces for engaging, retaining and disengaging themobile communication device and bracket.
 5. The mounting apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the engagement portions of the plurality of sidesurfaces each have a predetermined shape formed of a curved up ramp, aflat top section and a curved down ramp.
 6. The mounting apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the mounting apparatus provides both a drop in mountingoption and a slide in mounting option.
 7. The mounting apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the housing comprises a unitarily die cast chassis. 8.A mounting apparatus for a communication device, comprising: a mobilecommunication device formed of a housing having top, bottom, front, backand first and second side surfaces respectively and having first andsecond integrated rails extending from the top surface over the firstand second side surfaces, the fist and second integrated rails havingcontoured portions; a bracket unitarily formed having a bottom surfaceand a plurality of side surfaces extending therefrom, each of theplurality of side surfaces having an engagement portion formed of acurved up ramp, a top flat section and a curved down ramp, the bracketfor receiving the mobile communication device using either of twomounting options selected from a drop down option and a slide in option;wherein the drop down option allows the mobile communication device tobe vertically deposited within the bracket such that the first andsecond integrated rails rest upon each flat section of the plurality ofside surfaces; and the second mounting option allows the mobilecommunication device to be slid along the first and second integratedrails, the contoured portions of the first and second integrated railssliding up the up ramp, across the flat top section and down the downramp of the engagement portion of the plurality of side surfaces.
 9. Themounting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a unitarilyformed housing.
 10. The mounting apparatus of claim 7, wherein thehousing comprises a chassis.
 11. The mounting apparatus of claim 9,wherein the chassis is a unitarily die cast chassis.
 12. A mountingapparatus, comprising: a mobile communication device having a housingwith rails integrated therein and extending therefrom, the railsincluding first and second contoured portions; a bracket having aplurality of side surfaces, the plurality of side surfaces providingfirst side panels and second side panels; the mobile communicationdevice mounting to the bracket via one of two mounting options: a dropin option and a slide in option; in the drop in option, the housingbeing deposited into the bracket between the plurality of side surfacessuch that the rails rest upon the top flat sections of the plurality ofside surfaces, and the second contoured portions engage the first sidepanels; and in the slide in option: the housing being slid horizontallybetween the first and second side panels, the rails initially slidingover the flat top sections of the first side panels and as the railsslide toward the second side panels, the first contoured portion slidingup over the up ramp, across the flat top section and down the down rampof the first side panels, the second contoured portion thereby engagingand retaining the first side panels.
 13. A mounting apparatus,comprising: a mobile communication device having a unitarily formedhousing with side rails extending therefrom, the rails having contouredportions; and a bracket having side panels providing tracks for therails, the rails and the tracks guiding the housing into the bracketwhile the contoured portions of the rails engage the side panels of thebracket.